Prep for Lumia 950 & Lumia 950 XL: USB Type C – What is it and what to buy

The Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL both feature a USB-C connector supporting the USB 3.1 standard for faster charging and data transfer. It replaces the micro-USB port we've grown accustomed to. This means buying new cables if you lose one or need an extra charger at another place. We'll help explain more about USB Type-C and what cables to get in case you need one.

What is USB Type C?

USB Type-C (the plug's shape) is about the same size as the micro-USB port, but you no longer need to worry if you've inserted it upside-down. Both orientations work, so it's easier to plug in. For reference, the micro-USB connector is considered USB Type-B, while the USB port on your laptop is USB Type-A.

What is USB 3.1?

USB Type-C supports the USB 3.1 standard that is capable of transfer rates of up to 10Gbps. That's double the transfer speed of USB 3.0! Additionally, these cables can support up to 100W of power, which is enough to charge full sized notebooks.

What to get

The Lumia 950 and 950 XL comes with a wall charger with USB Type-C connector at the end. The output is 5V, 3A. Most recent phones come with 5V, 2A micro-USB wall chargers. The Microsoft Store currently does not sell a replacement charger.

USB 3.1 Type-C male to USB 3.0 Type-A male cable

If you want to transfer files between the Lumia 950 or Lumia 950 XL with your PC, you can use a USB-A to USB-C cable. This comes included with your Lumia 950 and 950 XL. If you need to get an extra one and if your laptop or PC has USB 3.0 ports, make sure to get a cable with a USB 3.0 type A male connector on one end and USB Type-C male connector on the other end.

If you end up getting a USB 2.0 cable, the transfer speed is about ten times slower on paper (480Mbps vs. 5,000Mbps). USB 3.0 connectors are usually distinguished from their USB 2.0 counterparts by blue color-coding of the receptacles and plugs, and the initials SS.

After some research, we found a cable from Nekteck on Amazon.com that meets the requirements:

Microsoft Display Dock

Using the USB Type-C port on the Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL, you can connect them to the Microsoft Display Dock. This gives you the option to use Continuum and connect the phone with a keyboard, mouse, and external monitor. Early Lumia 950 XL buyers might be lucky to get this accessory for free.

USB-C OTG cable

We'll be testing this in the next few days, but there are USB Type-C OTG cables so you can attach USB flash drives and other hardware to the Lumia 950 and 950 XL. We'll update this shorty after some testing.

USB-C is the future

Expect to see more devices, and not just phones, featuring the USB Type-C connector. It supports faster data transfer, faster charging, and more importantly, it's easier to plug in! Are you getting extra cables already? Sound off in the comments!

Reader comments

Prep for Lumia 950 & Lumia 950 XL: USB Type C – What is it and what to buy

I'd be happy with some braided usb-A to usb-C cables that meet spec correctly. I want the iOrange cables but they are not available in the UK. Only options are Ankar only in one length and the ridiculously priced Belkin cables. Any one got a source for decent cables in the UK?

Do they even make USB 2.0-USB Type-C cables? I wouldn't think so, meaning no worries you'd get a slower cable. Also, sucks that I can no longer use my Xbox One's 8-foot Play & Charge cable on my phone if I upgrade, but that's OK. I'll need to find a long Type-C though, since I use a desktop in my bedroom and am 3-5 feet from the tower with my phone.

Also, are there external batteries that push 3A yet? The battery I have now has two ports, one running at 1A and the other at 2.4A. The 0.6A boost wouldn't be a big deal, but just something to wonder as I maybe get a new battery someday.

Sad, sad thing is, those don't exist as yet, and i have been looking. Also want USB A to female C. Don't exist, not even on alibaba. Just want to stick those in PC ports, to be able to go over to usb-C cakes all the way.

Watched an unboxing. It comes with a wall charger that goes to Type-C and a Type-A to Type-C cable for file transfers, as the article suggests (which I was surprised by, since you usually get a USB cable and an AC adapter that the cable plugs into, so it's both your wall charger and file transfer cable).

IDK, maybe. There IS only one cable. This would mean that the charger doesn't have a breakaway cable like most do, option for an older style where the charger and adapter are permanently fixed together. That would make the data cable in the box the only cable in there.

Yah! same wavelenghts here people!...though I purchased a different cable. Unless I missed it I don't think there's a review by Mr. Leung for a similar cable by Rankie (linke below). It's a bit cheaper and looks to be similarly solid (via reviews) compared to the one recommended in the article. I haven't used or tested it out yet, so grain of salt where needed.

Go type-c male to type-c male cables only, and just have a few adapters to older types. Then you have just one cable for everything and a few small adapters for 'legacy'. Such small adapters are easy to handle, much easier that cables that take up space and get entangled

This article has impecable timing. I actually just bought this exact cable an hour ago, with the recommendation of a Google engineer who has been reviewing every USB-A to USB-C that you can find (more info here http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A25GROL6KJV3QG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=U... ) .
I also bought this cable, since it's twice as long, and I sometimes need a cable longer than 3 ft. It only has USB 2.0, but that should be fine. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010VFFU1W?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_...
I also bought this one for my car (edit: Thank you Cell4one for exposing my derp of linking the one from his profile of ones that he doesn't recommend. I added the new link below)
Also, one thing that should've been mentioned is to be VERY VERY CAREFUL WITH THE POWER BRICK THAT YOU USE. Some deals have cords that are compliant and provide the correct amount of resistance while having bricks that can't handle it.

The Tronsmart 2 port car charger has one green USB Type-A port on top, and then a USB Type-C captive cable, meaning it has a Type-C plug on one end, and the other end cannot be removed from the charger.

According to the USB PD sniffer, the CC line on the charger connected via the captive cable is pulled up to Vbus using a 10kΩ resistor. According to the USB Type C specification Section 4.11.1, this indicates to the device being charged that this power source is capable of supplying 5V 3A.

However, please look carefully at the rating text on the side of the charger. I have attached a picture of it. It says "Output(each port): DC 5V/2.4A"
This means that the tronsmart charger is using the incorrect CC pullup, as the charger itself is not rated at 3A.

When I plugged in my somewhat discharged Chromebook Pixel 2015, the Pixel would not charge (my twinkie current meter measured 0mA current), and it appeared that the charger itself had browned out. The Chromebook Pixel made a high pitched squealing sound until I disconnected it from the charger.

As an experiment, I also tried connecting Pixel to the Tronsmart's OTHER usb port using a compliant (56kΩ terminated) USB A-C cable. Using the other port, the Pixel charged properly.

In conclusion, this charger is using the wrong CC termination given its rating of only being able to handle 5V 2.4A out of each port. Fast charging Type-C devices like the Chromebook Pixel may try to pull 3.0A out of the captive cable, improperly browning out the charger."

"For reference, the micro-USB connector is considered USB Type-B, while the USB port on your laptop is USB Type-A.​"

...For reference, the micro-USB connector is considered micro-B--but generally just called micro-USB since the micro-A/mini-A standards are rarely used--while USB Type B is the larger, square-ier shape seen on external enclosures, monitors, printers, etc.

Bought that same USB-C cable a couple days ago, and bought a USB-C card for the desktop to go along with it. Now the question is how fast will it be able to transfer data to internal and memory cards, and will the memory be able to keep up.

Let's not forget the speed the port carries isn't all about storage transfer speed. While you're copying a movie from a USB HDD to your phone, you may also be streaming something in 4K to a monitor. It takes bandwidth to do that as well. ?!? You'd hate your mouse and keyboard to slowdown during all that, wouldn't you?